More of the Music of Joni Mitchell
- This Joni Mitchell classic (one of only a handful of copies to hit the site in close to five years) boasts solid Double Plus (A++) sound or close to it on all FOUR sides of these vintage Asylum pressings
- Henry Lewy brings the analog richness, smoothness and clarity he achieved on Court and Spark to the recording (particularly on sides one, two and four) – it’s some of the best live sound we’ve ever heard
- Joni reworks some of her best-loved songs for this concert, with five tracks from Blue alone(!), and the new arrangements show us just how vital her early 70s work has turned out to be
- “It’s a strong album of her best songs performed mostly informally… Much of the material here is beautiful, replete with the patented Mitchell tension. And a word for engineer Henry Lewy—the sound is terrific, the best reproduced concert album I’ve heard.” – Rolling Stone
- If like us you’re a big Joni Mitchell fan, then this killer live album from 1974 belongs in your collection.
We recently had a chance to do another shootout for this album, and when you find a great copy the sound is out of this world. Not many live albums have this kind of “you are there” immediacy. Turn down the lights, crank up the volume, and you’ll be right there in the crowd as Joni and the LA Express (Tom Scott, Robben Ford, and the crew) knock out jazzy versions of some of her best material.
The brass sounds great — you can really hear the breath moving through the horns, with the all-important bite that really brings their various characters to life.
I’d be remiss not to mention the amazing bottom end on this copy. The best sides have big, note-like bass that sets an unusually strong foundation for these great songs. You don’t usually get much bass on Joni’s studio albums, so WHOMP-aholics like myself will find a copy like this to be quite a treat.
Just check out the songs on here: “You Turn Me On I’m A Radio,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire,” “Circle Game,” “People’s Parties,” “All I Want,” “Woodstock,” “The Last Time I Saw Richard,” and on and on. Those are many of our very favorite Joni songs, and the versions on this album do not disappoint.